May
14
Baskets in Your Backyard
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“Where can I find baskets?” is one of the most-popular questions at Ask The Gift Basket Expert.
It’s asked most often by new designers searching for beautiful containers to start their businesses, but veteran designers also ask when they’re ready to begin marketing to clients in untapped industries. Do you fit into one of these categories?
One concern about buying baskets is the shipping cost. You’ll pay high freight charges when ordering from wholesalers located thousands of miles away from your location, especially if the baskets are sizes that resemble the ones on this page.
That’s why designers search for local sources, which saves them $50 or more in freight costs depending on the order size.
Keep these three tips handy to cut your search time and budget for baskets in half.
1. Find local floral wholesalers. These firms sell fresh flowers and supplies to retailers in your area. I’ve visited many throughout the U.S., and they all stock baskets.
2. Use Yahoo.com’s search directory. Yahoo’s search engine is very specific in locating sources by state. Placing the word “baskets” into this site’s page may also yield results.
3. Look at tags and labels on baskets at retail stores. Local retailers often purchase merchandise from state distributors. One shop in my area never removes basket tags. That’s how I found a basket wholesaler just five minutes from my shop.
Basket sources are out there. Find them now, and use the savings to buy postcards or another type of marketing tool to reach customers.
Here’s a two-page report on selecting great baskets for your designs.
May
11
Competitive Edge, Delivery Basics, Turning Down Clients
Filed Under Competition, Customers, Sales-Increasing Strategies | Leave a Comment
HOW DO YOU KEEP A COMPETITIVE EDGE?
I once interviewed two gift baskets shop owners with stores just steps away from each other. Although they were close in proximity, the two stores focused on thriving rather than hurting each other financially. Wednesday’s newsletter shares three tips I learned from two other designers who handle competition in ways that you will appreciate and be able to do on your own.
GAS PUMP LESSONS
Are you maximizing every opportunity to conserve gas when delivering gift baskets or traveling to presentations? Here are several ways to save money or adjust your delivery prices suggested by shop owners (including a florist) who shared advice in my local newspaper.
SOMETIMES “NO” IS THE ANSWER
Requests for a $100 basket at a price of $25 are hard to fill, and that’s one of the reasons why Top 10 Letters is popular item to help to quickly decline a sale. Turning down opportunities is what participants in other industries are doing more frequently in this economy. Read what they’re facing and how you can also keep your blood pressure from boiling.
May
7
How to Rise Above Competition
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Designers: Please tell me how I can help your business by clicking this link to complete a brief survey. My thanks to all who participate.
There’s competition all around you, from gift basket shops to florists to stores that make custom gift baskets. Is it possible to equal their marketing tactics so that prospects clearly see you as the company of choice for gifts and baskets?
I recently spoke with two gift basket designers who often find themselves up against stiff competition. Here are three tips they asked me to share with you.
1. Do everything possible, within your means and budget, to contact customers on a consistent basis. Mailing monthly postcards, delivering muffins or cookies, promoting online newsletters, and offering in-office demonstrations may be rudimentary, but they truly work to encourage sales.
2. Create up to three new gift basket designs using inventory that was put away or temporarily forgotten. Introduce these creations on your Web site, with help from this online selling article and these design enhancement tips, and offer an incentive with purchase.
3. Monitor all media for competitive ads and offers. Sometimes you’re in a position to react to their promotions by offering customers matched pricing. At other times you must simply keep track without creating a competitive offer. You’ll know when to strike and when to stay within your means.
Here are tips to understand who is your competition and who is not.
Make positive moves to keep your business thriving no matter how much competition is in the area. Your marketing will shine if you focus on the reasons customers buy from you, and they will continue to be loyal no matter who else sells gift baskets.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, business competition
May
4
Trade Show Exhibits, Shoe Marketing, Business Cards
Filed Under Marketing Materials, Sales-Increasing Strategies, TRADE SHOWS | Leave a Comment
HOW TO SHOW OFF AT THE SHOW
My first exhibit at a business trade show was nerveracking. Another exhibitor had gift baskets piled high in her booth, but once I explained to executives the differences between her gift baskets and the services attached to mine, the orders arrived in no time. Wednesday’s newsletter gets you ready for trade show exhibits, explaining in three steps what it takes to go from show to sell.
STEP THIS WAY
I explained how I use infant and toddler shoes as marketing tools, and one savvy designer questioned me about what the client does with the shoe when the contents are gone. Here’s a link to the original article, comment, and my suggestion. What’s your thought about this?
HIGH CARD WINS
Are your business cards the traditional one-sided type, printed on both sides, or designed in a trifold format? Here’s the lowdown about today’s cards and reasons why you might create two or more styles to present to different clients.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, how to exhibit at trade shows, business cards
Apr
30
Ready to Try a Trade Show?
Filed Under Marketing Materials, TRADE SHOWS | Leave a Comment
Today’s mail just arrived. It includes an invitation to show your gift baskets at an upcoming regional business show and promises to be visited by local firms, from temp agency reps to landscapers.
This may be a great opportunity to show your gift baskets to hundreds of potential corporate clients. Will you exhibit? Here’s what to consider before signing up.
1. Get the facts. Ask the show producers about last year’s attendance numbers. Also request last year’s show directory so you can call random exhibitors for their feedback on the past event.
2. Choose your marketing materials. Flyers, catalog sheets, and a giveaway drawing that lets you collect business cards for post-event contact are the norm. If you have no literature to distribute, don’t exhibit at this show.
Do you recall the brochure samples I shared with you?
Brochure Flyer
Trifold Brochure
Standard Catalog
Four Page Catalog
3. Create your database. Your post-show strategy includes entering prospects’ names and addresses into a database (or hiring an outsourcing company to complete the project), and calling as many of them as possible to sell them on your baskets for general appreciation and upcoming occasions.
Trade show exhibiting connects you with prospects whom you normally have no access to, and it’s a fantastic way to increase your sales throughout the year.
Learn more on how to create a simple Web site contact page for prospects to ask questions before ordering.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, how to exhibit at trade shows, marketing materials, catalogs and flyers
